microhabitat

noun

mi·​cro·​hab·​i·​tat ˌmī-krō-ˈha-bə-ˌtat How to pronounce microhabitat (audio)
: the microenvironment in which an organism lives
decaying wood creates a microhabitat for insects

Examples of microhabitat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Each new garden is the opening up of a microhabitat for a rich tapestry of organisms — insects and birds, small mammals, reptiles, a host of microbes and fungi. Krista Stevens, Longreads, 29 Aug. 2024 Walnut Canyon is packed top to bottom with life zones and microhabitats highlighting cactus and agave growing just footsteps from Douglas fir and ponderosa pine. Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 4 Jan. 2024 This microhabitat turns traditional thinking about snow on its head. Erin Blakemore, Popular Science, 31 Jan. 2020 Another factor in midges’ survival is their microhabitat. Meilan Solly, Smithsonian, 10 Sep. 2019 Schill noted that tardigrades had evolved to survive in particular microhabitats. Ben Guarino, ajc, 14 July 2017

Word History

First Known Use

1931, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of microhabitat was in 1931

Dictionary Entries Near microhabitat

Cite this Entry

“Microhabitat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/microhabitat. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

microhabitat

noun
mi·​cro·​hab·​i·​tat ˌmī-krō-ˈhab-ə-ˌtat How to pronounce microhabitat (audio)
: the microenvironment in which an organism lives
the kidneys, heart, and sinuses are the usual microhabitats of the sporocysts of the schistosome

More from Merriam-Webster on microhabitat

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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